ARE the cracks in Arsenal's Premier League title bid beginning to show?

It had looked so promising at the start of January, with the Gunners two points clear of Leicester having taken 15 points out of a possible 18.

But draws with Liverpool and Stoke alongside defeat to Chelsea – a club which Arsene Wenger has not recorded a league victory against in five years – saw Arsenal's momentum slow at an alarming rate.

Asked if his team's challenge was starting to tail off, Wenger said: "We'll see at the end of the season. It's too early to say that."

Wenger was right, of course, but that opinion did not stop the doubters from circling.

Daily Mail columnist Martin Keown accused his old team of too often inhabiting a comfort zone while former Gunners midfielder Paul Merson told Sky Sports that the club should have been more active in the January transfer window.

Wenger has three top-flight titles on his CV since joining Arsenal two decades ago but the Gunners have not tasted Premier League success in 12 years.

And with just one league win on the board this year, the pressure will be on when the North London side arrive at Vitality Stadium on Sunday.